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The Aurore Quartet

This joyful band brims with lyricism and humour, touching the heart and soul of their audience.

The Aurore Quartet

Formed in September 2004, The Aurore Quartet is fronted by the glamorous, talented Aurore Voilque on violin and vocals and completed by the dynamic trio of Siegfried 'Ziggy' Mandace and Darko Andelkovic on guitars, and Pierre Frasque on double bass. Mixing their diverse musical backgrounds, this joyful band brims with lyricism and humour, touching the heart and soul of their audience and taking them on a musical trip to 30s and 40s swing and Gypsy folk repertoires. With their own very personal interpretations and memorable compositions, The Aurore Quartet enthrals and lifts the spirits! Joining them as guest musicians on this live recording are Gypsy Jazz virtuoso Ritary Gaguenetti and rising vocal star Phillipa Leigh, helping to create an eclectic and exhilarating musical feast!

Aurore Voilque: Violin and Vocals. Aurore started playing violin at the early age of 3, before moving to Africa and developing her talent, taking part in various symphonic orchestras. After moving to France, she studied master-classes in Barcelonette in 1997, and her career began. She headed to Paris in 1998, fuelled by a desire to improve her ‘ear' by attending jam sessions and playing in bars, expanding her musical vocabulary. When introduced to the Gypsy Swing scene, everything clicked into place. She formed The Aurore Quartet in 2004, uniting musicians who shared her musical approach. While the Quartet is still her first priority, she also plays as a solo artist with such Gypsy Jazz greats as Patrick Saussois, Ninine Garcia, Angelo DeBarre, Serge Camps and Ludovic Beier. Aurore's passion of sharing her love of music shines through her exuberant and captivating performances.

Siegfried ‘Ziggy' Mandacé: Guitar. Ziggy is an African, French Vietnamese guitar player based in Paris. At age 13 he started learning the guitar, busking in the streets of Paris with musicians from all over the world, developing his skills playing in acoustic settings, mixing the musical traditions of Django, Charlie Christian and big band style. Ziggy is also a composer, writing memorable originals for the Quartet.

Darko Andelkovich: Guitar. Darko was born in Serbia and sucked into the magical world of music early on, playing in various blues-rock bands and in a folkloric dance company. On his arrival in France,he studied Jazz and partook in numerous Jazz and world music projects such as Tempo Slavia, Stefka Jazz Quartet, Jean-Philippe Watremex and AZ trio, Rudolphe Raffalli, Dlaima, O'djila and others. Darko composes and teaches Jazz and the traditional music of the Balkans.

Pierre Frasque: Double Bass. Initially rooted in the blues and swing, Pierre was rapidly introduced to Latin music, World and Jazz. A wonderfully versatile musician, Pierre has led his musical career as a devotee to the rhythm and is ready to play any instrument as long as there is a groove and of course some fat bass.

Ritary Gaguenetti: Guitar. Born in 78, a self-taught master guitarist and composer, Ritary is a Sinti Gypsy and an outstanding virtuoso musician, with a style that is smooth and melodious, clean and precise. Influenced byJoe Pass, George Benson and Stochelo Rosenberg, he has many diverse CDs Under his belt, and has toured the world with his ensemble to rapturous welcomes.

Phillipa Leigh: Vocals. Phillipa originally trained at RADA, graduating with a degree in acting, during which her vocal talent was first recognized. After being introduced to the music of Billie Holiday (one of her all time favourite singers and most powerful influences) Phillipa decided to pursue a career in singing. www.phillipaleigh.co.uk